Easy reach basket carousel

ABSTRACT

An easy reach basket carousel is disclosed. An example of the easy reach basket carousel includes a drive mechanism and a follower mechanism. The easy reach basket carousel also includes a belt extending between the drive mechanism and the follower mechanism. The easy reach basket carousel also includes a plurality of rods configurable by an end-user at various locations in the belt. The plurality of rods may be spaced apart from one another and extend from the housing to receive one or more basket thereon. The rods are movable by the drive mechanism.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/321,863 titled “Easy Reach Basket Carousel” ofValerie Huntington, hereby incorporated by reference for all that itdiscloses as though fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Closet and other organizers are becoming more popular to help peoplestore and organize their many things. Such organizers are typicallyshelves, containers (e.g., baskets or bins) on the floor or shelf, orsome combination of these. Various sizes and configurations of shelvesand containers are commercially available to fit a variety of spaces,both large and small. However, these organizers typically do not do agood job of providing the user with ready access to anything stored inthe container or on the shelf. This is particularly an issue for smallchildren and those who are wheelchair-bound or otherwise handicapped andcan't readily reach the shelf or container. Indeed, this can be an issuefor anyone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an example easy reach basket carousel.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an example easy reach basket carouselwith a basket in a vertical configuration.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an example easy reach basketcarousel.

FIG. 3 shows an example easy reach basket carousel in a horizontalconfiguration.

FIGS. 4A-B illustrate operation of a lock mechanism of an example easyreach basket carousel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An easy reach basket carousel is disclosed herein. An example easy reachbasket carousel includes a drive mechanism and a follower mechanism. Abelt extends between the drive mechanism and the follower mechanism. Aplurality of rods are configurable by an end-user at various locationsin the belt. The rods may be spaced apart from one another and extendfrom the housing to receive one or more basket thereon. The baskets(e.g., containers) can be used to hold items such as scarves, socks,other clothing items, and/or other articles. The plurality of rods aremovable by the drive mechanism so that the baskets come down lowerand/or out from behind the back of the closet so that the baskets can beeasily reached by the user.

In an example, the easy reach basket carousel includes a housing. Thehousing may have a back mount with the drive mechanism rotatably mountedthereon. The back mount may be configured for mounting to a wall orother surface. The housing may also include a front cover to enclose thedrive mechanism in the housing. The housing may also have an edge coverfor a belt. The edge cover may include a brush or other covering of thebelt that enables the rods to extend therethrough and to move about achannel formed between the edge cover and the front cover.

In an example, the easy reach basket carousel may also include a lockmechanism operable between a locked position and an unlocked position toprevent movement of the plurality of rods in the locked position, and toenable movement of the rods in the unlocked position.

The example easy reach basket carousel device may be implemented toassist people that are wheelchair-bound or small children. Of course,the easy reach basket carousel disclosed herein is not limited to anyparticular end-user. For example, the easy reach basket carousel devicemay also be used by children or anyone else to provide an organizer andaccess within easy reach. For example, the easy reach basket carouseldevice may be provided in clothes closets, pantries, kitchens or otherrooms, and even tool sheds or garages.

Before continuing, it is noted that as used herein, the terms “includes”and “including” mean, but is not limited to, “includes” or “including”and “includes at least” or “including at least.” The term “based on”means “based on” and “based at least in part on.”

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an example easy reach basket carousel10. FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an example easy reach basketcarousel 10 with a basket 12 in a vertical configuration. The exampleeasy reach basket carousel 10 may include a housing 14, a drivemechanism 22 (see FIG. 2) in the housing 14, and a plurality of rods 16movable by the drive mechanism. In an example, the easy reach basketcarousel 10 includes a front cover 18 a and a back cover 18 b (see FIG.2) to enclose the drive mechanism 22 in the housing. The rods 16 may bespaced apart from one another and extend out from the housing 14 toreceive one or more basket 12 or other container thereon (see FIG. 1B).In an example, a basket 12 need not be provided, e.g., where a scarf ortie can be hung over the rod 16. The easy reach basket carousel 10 canbe hung to any wall (e.g., either in or outside of a closet), and/orpositioned to sit on top of a surface (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 3C).

In an example, the rods 16 are insertable and removable to providevariable configurations of the plurality of rods. That is, any number ofrods and/or spacing between the rods may be provided (e.g., toaccommodate different size baskets 12).

In an example, the housing 14 may include an edge cover to at leastpartially cover a belt 22 (see FIG. 2). The edge cover includes a side24 and a top portion 26. The top portion 26 may be a brush or othercovering that enables the rods 16 to extend through the edge cover andmove about a channel 27 formed between the side of the edge cover andthe front cover outer perimeter of the front cover 18.

In an example, the easy reach basket carousel 10 includes a lockmechanism 28. The lock mechanism 28 may be operable between a lockedposition and an unlocked position. The lock mechanism 28 can thus beconfigured to prevent movement of the rods 16 when in the lockedposition. The lock mechanism 28 may also be configured to enablemovement of the rods 16 when in the unlocked position.

When in an unlocked position, the end-user can rotate the baskets 12around the channel 27, e.g., by pulling on one of the rods 16 (or otherhandle). In another example, the rods 16 (and hence baskets 12) can bemotor driven. An example drive mechanism is illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an example easy reach basketcarousel 10. An example drive mechanism 30 is shown in FIG. 2. Theexample drive mechanism 30 may include a drive mechanism 32, such as awheel or gear. The drive mechanism 30 may also include a drivenmechanism 34, such as another wheel or gear, coupled with the drivemechanism 32 via a belt 22 (or chain, etc.).

In an example, the belt 22 is driven by the drive mechanism 30 to movethe rod 16. The drive mechanism 30 may be motor driven, or manuallyrotatable. The belt may include a plurality of cylinders or otherattachments configured to connect the rods 16 to the belt 22.

In an example, the easy reach basket carousel 10 device has wheels 32and 34 at each end, with the belt 22 around the wheels 32 and 34. Thewheels 32 and 34 may have teeth (e.g., gear wheels) or be sufficientlytaught such that the belt 22 can be engaged by the wheels 32 and 34 androtate without the need for gear teeth. Rods 16 are inserted into orotherwise affixed to the belt 20 around the circumference of the belt22. Baskets 12 or other containers can be hung on each of the rods 16.

The easy reach basket carousel 10 may include a housing with a backing18 b and a front cover 18 a that rests over the wheels 32 and 34, andover a portion of the belt 22 on the inner aspect. The cover 18 b can beattached to the back of the device with one attachment piece in thecenter of the device. The cover 18 b covers and/or helps to maintainsthe belt 20 in place on the inner aspect of the belt 22. On the outeraspect of the belt 22 there is a lip that covers the outer portion ofthe belt 22, leaving only the portion of the belt 22 that holds the rods16 visible. This lip holds the belt 22 in place on the outer aspect ofthe belt 22. The device can be mounted onto a wall or any other surface,allowing the rods 22 to face outward with the baskets accessible to theend-user.

The outside cover 18 a covers the belt 22 and only the rods 16 show. Thebaskets 12 hang from the rods 16. Optional clips or other lockingmechanisms (not shown) may be provided to fasten the baskets to the rods16.

It should be noted that the examples described above are provided forpurposes of illustration, and are not intended to be limiting. Otherdevices and/or device configurations may be utilized to carry out theoperations described herein. The operations described herein areprovided to illustrate example implementations. It is noted that theoperations are not limited to any particular ordering shown. Still otheroperations may also be implemented.

FIG. 3 shows an example easy reach basket carousel 10 in a horizontalconfiguration, e.g., as it may be laid on a flat surface (as opposed tohung on a wall as shown in FIGS. 1A-B).

In the example shown, the easy reach basket carousel 10 includes aplurality of rods 16 on the belt 22. The rods 16 may be spaced apartfrom one another and extend outward to receive one or more basket 12 orother container or device. In this example, the baskets 12 may beoriented substantially perpendicular to the baskets 12 shown in FIGS.1A-B, so that articles can be collected in the baskets 12.

In an example, the belt 22 includes a plurality of cylinders 36configured to receive the rods therein. The rods 16 can be insertedand/or removed from the cylinders 36, making the easy reach basketcarousel 10 fully configurable. That is, the rods 16 can be positionedand repositioned to provide any desired configuration and/or spacing ofrods 16 about the belt 22. It is noted, however, that the rods 16 and/orretaining mechanisms 36 do not need to be cylindrical and may have anydesired shape, size, and/or other geometric configuration.

FIGS. 4A-B illustrate operation of a lock mechanism as it may beconfigured as a rod lock 28 of the example easy reach basket carousel10. The rod lock 28 may be pivotally attached to the cover 18 b andextend through the front cover 18 a.

The rod lock 28 can be moved into an unlocked position (FIG. 4A) whichallows the rods 16 (and hence the baskets 12) to be rotated. In theunlocked position, the rod lock 28 is moved away from the rods 16.

The rod lock 28 may also be moved into a locked position (FIG. 4B) whichprevents movement of the rods 16 and maintains or holds the baskets 12in place to prevent movement. The rod lock 28 may include asubstantially U-shaped end portion that may be pivoted into engagementwith one of the rods 16 to secure the rod 16 in a substantially fixedposition, thus preventing movement of any of the rods 16. In an example,the rod lock 28 moves freely to either stop or allow movement.

It is noted that the examples shown and described are provided forpurposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting. Stillother examples are also contemplated.

1. An easy reach basket carousel, comprising: a housing; a drivemechanism in the housing; a plurality of rods movable by the drivemechanism, the plurality of rods spaced apart from one another andextending from the housing to receive one or more basket thereon.
 2. Theeasy reach basket carousel of claim 1, further comprising a drivenmechanism coupled with the drive mechanism in the housing.
 3. The easyreach basket carousel of claim 1, further comprising a belt driven bythe drive mechanism to move the plurality of rods.
 4. The easy reachbasket carousel of claim 3, wherein the belt includes a plurality ofcylinders configured to receive the plurality of rods therein.
 5. Theeasy reach basket carousel of claim 4, wherein the rods are inserted andremoved from the plurality of cylinders to provide variableconfigurations of the plurality of rods.
 6. The easy reach basketcarousel of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism comprises at least onewheel.
 7. The easy reach basket carousel of claim 1, wherein the drivemechanism comprises at least one gear.
 8. The easy reach basket carouselof claim 1, further comprising a motor to operate the drive mechanism.9. The easy reach basket carousel of claim 1, wherein the drivemechanism is manually rotatable.
 10. The easy reach basket carousel ofclaim 1, further comprising a back mount having the drive mechanismrotatably mounted thereon, the back mount configured for mounting to awall or other surface.
 11. The easy reach basket carousel of claim 1,further comprising a front cover to enclose the drive mechanism in thehousing.
 12. The easy reach basket carousel of claim 11, furthercomprising an edge cover for a belt, the edge cover including a brush orother covering of the belt while enabling the plurality of rods toextend therethrough and move about a channel formed between the edgecover and the front cover.
 13. The easy reach basket carousel of claim1, further comprising a lock mechanism operable between a lockedposition and an unlocked position to prevent movement of the pluralityof rods in the locked position, and to enable movement of the rods inthe unlocked position.
 14. An easy reach basket carousel, comprising: ahousing having an edge cover and a front cover; a drive mechanism in thehousing; a plurality of rods extending from the housing between the edgecover and the front cover, the plurality of rods spaced apart from oneanother and extending from the housing to receive one or more basketthereon, the plurality of rods movable by the drive mechanism; and abelt driven by the drive mechanism to move the plurality of rods. 15.The easy reach basket carousel of claim 14, further comprising a drivenmechanism coupled with the drive mechanism in the housing.
 16. The easyreach basket carousel of claim 14, wherein the belt is configured toreceive the plurality of rods therein, and wherein the rods are insertedand removed from the belt to provide variable configurations of theplurality of rods.
 17. The easy reach basket carousel of claim 14,further comprising a lock mechanism operable between a locked positionand an unlocked position to prevent movement of the plurality of rods inthe locked position, and to enable movement of the rods in the unlockedposition.
 18. An easy reach basket carousel, comprising: a drivemechanism and a follower mechanism; a belt extending between the drivemechanism and the follower mechanism; a plurality of rods configurableby an end-user at various locations in the belt, the plurality of rodsspaced apart from one another and extending from the housing to receiveone or more basket thereon, the plurality of rods movable by the drivemechanism.
 19. The easy reach basket carousel of claim 18, furthercomprising a housing with: a back mount having the drive mechanismrotatably mounted thereon, the back mount configured for mounting to awall or other surface; a front cover to enclose the drive mechanism inthe housing; and an edge cover for a belt, the edge cover including abrush or other covering of the belt while enabling the plurality of rodsto extend therethrough and move about a channel formed between the edgecover and the front cover.
 20. The easy reach basket carousel of claim18, further comprising a lock mechanism operable between a lockedposition and an unlocked position to prevent movement of the pluralityof rods in the locked position, and to enable movement of the rods inthe unlocked position.